Review: Ciuman at Download Festival 2015 

Review: Kiss at Download Festival 2015 - beneath the pantomime there was a rock concert

Kiss is a band that hardly needs an introduction, the legends of glam rock making a huge amount of money and fame through merchandising and turning the face painted foursome into a touring group for their substantial back catalogue.

Starting with a phenomenally decadent opener in Detroit Rock City, Demon, Starchild, Cat and Spaceman, took everyone through a sheer panoply.

A pantomime of light and colour, including zipwires, floating stages, guitar pyrotechnics, many many charming crowd interaction moments, and an closer in I Wanna Rock and Roll all Nite that cannot be in any way exaggerated, featuring a bunch of spinning floating platforms, confetti, streamers, a full on fireworks show and twenty foot pillars of flame.

All as precisely and intricately choreographed as the foursome themselves, who do not put a foot wrong in a way that\'s downright eerie at times.

Amidst the pantomime, explosions and zipwire tomfoolery there was in fact, a rock concert.

Audio wise there was no problems as Kiss took everyone for a history lesson through Kiss\' greatest hits.

Fans of the much-maligned Music from The Elder were destined to be disappointed however the omission of Crazy Crazy Nights was somewhat more of a shock.

Not that this matters too much, as it is the aesthetic and sheer aura of Kiss that ultimately draws people in.

Kiss was considered at one point a somewhat controversial pick as a Download headliner, given their focus on the sheer spectacle over musicality.

While their closing performance will not exactly convert any doubters, few could argue against the sheer audacity, intricacy and ultimate enjoyment of a show as grandiose as this.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

What we took away from this year\'s Download Festival

The 28 most incredible pictures from Download Festival 2015

Review: Enter Shikari at Download Festival 2015 - one of the most crucial bands around

Rou Reynolds overcame illness to headline second stage

Review: Slash at Download Festival 2015 - standard rock saved by nostalgic hits

Review: Billy Idol at Download Festival 2015 - unlikely to convert the uninitiated

Sherlock Holmes: 7 of the best Sherlock actors as the new Mr. Holmes film is released

10 top racecourses near Birmingham where you can enjoy a day at the races

2.8 Hours Later creators to return with new game Hyde

The Edgbaston hotel ditches fine dining menu for hot dogs and burgers

MTV's Judge Geordie will see Birmingham mum and daughter at loggerheads

Sherlock movie review: Is Mr. Holmes worth going to see? Who's in it?

Walk of Heroes exhibition in Broad Street to honour Birmingham's bravest soldiers

Suzi Perry could be racing to a job presenting Top Gear

Listen to Duran Duran's first demo tape and see inside band's recording studio in Kings Heath

See inside the spectacular Missoula Bar following £160,000 refurbishment

Aston Villa comment: Micah Richards signing is a statement of intent from Tim Sherwood

Live: Wednesday's news, travel and sport for Birmingham and the West Midlands

It's Centenary Square: What do you expect? Herds of wildebeest

Wolves blog: Sir Jack's memory will forever live on at Molineux

West Brom blog: Takeover uncertainty could jeopardise Albion's summer

Ashley Blake is applying to be a Top Gear co-host with Chris Evans

West Brom comment: James McClean could be Albion's next Irish star

Karin Ward tells High Court that Freddie Starr 'goosed' her during comedian's libel action against her

Mum and daughters in 14 HOUR airport delay after technical fault grounds plane in Spain

Is there something happening in your area you would like us to report on?

Tell us about it and, if possible, send us a picture

We reach over 2,871,244* unique users a month with dedicated coverage of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Over 66% of our visitors, who view over 4m* page impressions every month, are in the desirable ABC1 socio-economic groups.

To book an advert with the Birmingham Mail team call 0121 234 5000, email charlotte.wallbank@trinitymirror.com or visit the Trinity Mirror Midlands website for more information.

The Birmingham Mail is part of Trinity Mirror Midlands, offering you unique access to our audience across the region online and in print.

*Source: Omniture (UK 6 month average August \'14 - January \'15)

Marc Reeves has edited the Birmingham Mail since December 2014.

He is also a past editor of the Birmingham Post, as well as several other titles across the country in a 25-year career in the regional press.